London (AFP)

Dispossessed this year of its double title of champion of England by Liverpool, Manchester City took a small but appreciable revenge by correcting (4-0) of the very pale Reds, Thursday, for the 32nd day of Premier League.

Still with 20 points of difference between the two teams, this result has no real consequences, even if it could deprive the men of Jürgen Klopp of some historic records, the only goals of their end of the season.

It also consolidates the place of City's dolphin which is now 11 points ahead of Leicester (3rd).

With a week between City's loss to Chelsea (2-1), which definitively crowned Liverpool, and this match, one would think that the Reds would have had time to recover celebrations for their first title in 30 years.

But the way they exploded after the first goal conceded, despite the first 20 minutes of quality, suggests that, psychologically at least, decompression has caught up with them.

Raheem Sterling's mischievous penalty in front of Joe Gomez - who clung to the first leg in November, then a few days later, in selection, causing the attacker to be suspended for a match - tipped the match .

Kevin de Bruyne took charge of his transformation against the right foot (1-0, 25th).

Ten minutes later, Sterling found himself at the conclusion of a superb counter, chaining control in extension of the left and small ball between the legs of Gomez to double the bet (2-0, 35th).

Just before the break, it is the nugget Mancunian Phil Foden (20 years) who hit the nail, again after a series of passes which reduced the defenders of the Reds to the rank of spectators (3-0, 45th).

- Severe score -

Never under Jürgen Klopp Liverpool had reached the break with three goals behind. The last precedent went back to a 6-1 conceded at Stoke under the orders of Brendan Rodgers in mas 2015, where the score was already 5-0 at halftime.

Despite the Citizens' demonstration at the end of the first period, the score was severe at the break.

Mohamed Salah had touched the amount in the 20th minute, on a cross ground shot, and had already forced Ederson to a parry after a very good sequence control / volley in full race from the 4th minute.

The surest indication that Liverpool were not on their plate Thursday evening was their lack of reaction when they returned from the locker room or in the inexplicable failure of Sadio Mané who received an incredible ball from Jordan Henderson ten meters from goal without managing to take it back or control it (54e).

On the sidelines, Jürgen Klopp seemed more annoyed than really angry at the domination suffered by his players.

The fourth goal, on a shot from Sterling deflected in its goals by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, when it did not seem necessarily on target, will ultimately remain quite anecdotal (4-0, 66th).

All in all, this little correction is perhaps even a blessing for Klopp.

Far from calling into question the wonderful season of the Reds in the league, it reminds them that the gap with the competition is not "really" by 20 points and that next season, everyone will start on the same line.

© 2020 AFP